Population, behavioural and environmental drivers of malaria prevalence in the Democratic Republic of Congo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria is highly endemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but the limits and intensity of transmission within the country are unknown. It is important to discern these patterns as well as the drivers which may underlie them in order for effective prevention measures to be carried out.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>By applying high-throughput PCR analyses on leftover dried blood spots from the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) for the DRC, prevalence estimates were generated and ecological drivers of malaria were explored using spatial statistical analyses and multilevel modelling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 7,746 respondents, 2268 (29.3%) were parasitaemic; prevalence ranged from 0-82% within geographically-defined survey clusters. Regional variation in these rates was mapped using the inverse-distance weighting spatial interpolation technique. Males were more likely to be parasitaemic than older people or females (p < 0.0001), while wealthier people were at a lower risk (p < 0.001). Increased community use of bed nets (p = 0.001) and community wealth (p < 0.05) were protective against malaria at the community level but not at the individual level. Paradoxically, the number of battle events since 1994 surrounding one's community was negatively associated with malaria risk (p < 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This research demonstrates the feasibility of using population-based behavioural and molecular surveillance in conjunction with DHS data and geographic methods to study endemic infectious diseases. This study provides the most accurate population-based estimates to date of where illness from malaria occurs in the DRC and what factors contribute to the estimated spatial patterns. This study suggests that spatial information and analyses can enable the DRC government to focus its control efforts against malaria.</p

Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes

Cancer is driven by genetic change, and the advent of massively parallel sequencing has enabled systematic documentation of this variation at the whole-genome scale(1-3). Here we report the integrative analysis of 2,658 whole-cancer genomes and their matching normal tissues across 38 tumour types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We describe the generation of the PCAWG resource, facilitated by international data sharing using compute clouds. On average, cancer genomes contained 4-5 driver mutations when combining coding and non-coding genomic elements; however, in around 5% of cases no drivers were identified, suggesting that cancer driver discovery is not yet complete. Chromothripsis, in which many clustered structural variants arise in a single catastrophic event, is frequently an early event in tumour evolution; in acral melanoma, for example, these events precede most somatic point mutations and affect several cancer-associated genes simultaneously. Cancers with abnormal telomere maintenance often originate from tissues with low replicative activity and show several mechanisms of preventing telomere attrition to critical levels. Common and rare germline variants affect patterns of somatic mutation, including point mutations, structural variants and somatic retrotransposition. A collection of papers from the PCAWG Consortium describes non-coding mutations that drive cancer beyond those in the TERT promoter(4); identifies new signatures of mutational processes that cause base substitutions, small insertions and deletions and structural variation(5,6); analyses timings and patterns of tumour evolution(7); describes the diverse transcriptional consequences of somatic mutation on splicing, expression levels, fusion genes and promoter activity(8,9); and evaluates a range of more-specialized features of cancer genomes(8,10-18).Peer reviewe

Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914

A gravitational-wave transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced LIGO detectors on 2015 September 14. The event candidate, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the gravitational wave data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network Circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the gravitational wave sky localization coverage, the timeline and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the electromagnetic data and results of the electromagnetic follow-up campaign will be disseminated in the papers of the individual teams

Inferring and quantifying the role of an intrinsic current in a mechanism for a half-center bursting oscillation: A dominant scale and hybrid dynamical systems analysis

This paper illustrates an informatic technique for inferring and quantifying the dynamic role of a single intrinsic current in a mechanism of neural bursting activity. We analyze the patterns of the most dominant currents in a model of half-center oscillation in the leech heartbeat central pattern generator. We find that the patterns of dominance change substantially over a cycle, allowing different local reductions to be applied to the model. The result is a hybrid dynamical systems model, which is a piecewise representation of the mechanism combining multiple vector fields and discrete state changes. The simulation of such a model tests explicit hypotheses about the mechanism and is a novel way to retain both mathematical clarity and scientific detail in answering mechanistic questions about a complex model. Several insights into the central mechanism of “escape-release” in the model are elucidated by this analysis and compared with previous studies. The broader application and extension of this technique is also discussed

Gonadal development in the freshwater crab Sylviocarcinus pictus (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) (Brachyura: Trichodactylidae) from the Guamá river, state of Pará, Brazil

The development stages of male and female gonads in the freshwater crab Sylviocarcinus pictus (H. Milne Eduards, 1853) were described through macroscopic and microscopic (histology) examinations. The histological description was based on 40 specimens (20 each sex). Four gonadal development stages were found for females: immature, ripening, mature and spawned. The following female cells were found: ovogonia, oocytes in initial vitellogenesis, oocytes in advanced vitellogenesis, follicular cells and post-ovulatory follicles. Three development stages were found for males: immature, maturing and mature, with the indication of: spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, spermatozoids and spermatophores. These data suggest the pattern described in the literature. Size at sexual maturity was 32.3 mm of carapace width for males and 31.5 mm for females. The gonadal stages observed macroscopically by volume and color were validated through histological analysis and proved to be useful method for the rapid identification of sexual maturity in the species. The present study offers previously unpublished data on the reproductive biology of Sylviocarcinus pictus.<br>Os estádios de desenvolvimento das gônadas de machos e fêmeas de caranguejos Sylviocarcinus pictus (H. Milne Eduards, 1853) foram descritos por meio de observações macroscópicas e microscópicas (técnica histológica). A descrição histológica foi baseada em 40 espécimes (20 de cada sexo). Foram identificados quatro estádios de desenvolvimento para as fêmeas: imaturo, em maturação, maturo e em reabsorção. As seguintes células foram encontradas: ovogônias, ovócitos em vitelogênese inicial, ovócitos em vitelogênese avançada, células foliculares e folículos pós-ovulatórios. Três estádios de desenvolvimento foram encontrados para os machos: imaturo, em maturação e maturo, com indicação de: espermatogônias, espermatócitos, espermátides, espermatozóides e espermatóforos. Tais dados sugerem o padrão descrito na literatura. O tamanho da maturidade sexual foi de 32,3 mm de largura da carapaça para machos e 31,5 mm para fêmeas. Os estádios gonadais observados macroscopicamente por meio do volume e da coloração das gônadas foram validados pela análise histológica, sendo um critério útil e ágil para a identificação da maturidade sexual para a espécie. O presente estudo oferece informações inéditas sobre a biologia reprodutiva de Sylviocarcinus pictus

Corporate Social Responsibility Management System: A Beverage Industry Case Study

This research aims to analyse policies inherent to the Corporate Social Responsibility Management System (CSRMS) of a company that produce diet and light beverage, iced teas, juice drinks and bottled waters. This management system is based on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as “concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis” (EC, Green paper – Promoting a European framework for corporate social responsibility, COM (2001) 366 final. Brussels: Official Publications of the European Commission, July 18, 2001: 5), thus it allows the company to develop socially responsible practices (SRP). However, forgetting their real purpose, SRP are, frequently, applied on strict compliance with law, regulations and norms, although social responsibility strategies (SRS) are recognized as crucial to promote the economic and social success and the environmental sustainability. The methodology of this research focuses on the literature review, which contextualize the CSR, in general, and the CSRMS, in particular, in its various national and international standards. Thus, the research is supported on the Portuguese standards NP 4469-1: 2008—CSRMS, Part 1: Requirements and guidelines for their use (IPQ, NP 4469-1: 2008 – Sistema de Gest~ao da Responsabilidade Social. Parte 1: Requisitos e linhas de orientac¸~ao para a sua utilizac¸~ao. Caparica: IPQ, 2008) and NP 4469-2: 2010—CSRMS, Part 2: Implementation orientation guide (IPQ, NP 4469-2: 2010 – Sistema de Gest~ao da Responsabilidade Social. Parte 2: Guia de orientac¸~ao para a implementac¸~ao. Caparica: IPQ, 2010), as well as, on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 26,000: 2010—Guidance on social responsibility (ISO, International standard 26,000—Guidance on social responsibility. Geneva: ISO, 2010) and on the Social Accountability International (SAI) standard called SA 8000: 2008—Social Accountability 8000 (SAI, Social accountability 8000. New York: SAI, 2008). The empirical analysis is based on the case study method that involves a profound knowledge of the reality to investigate a company, using different methods and techniques that fall primarily a qualitative research paradigm, although it does not excluded quantitative. The results of this research show that the CSRMS implementation and sustainability strategies using the economy, efficiency and effectiveness criteria is the key to economic and social success and the environmental sustainability of the company. Indeed, this research identifies a case study that highlights the strategic approaches followed to recognize the importance of the standard in the implementation of social responsibility practices, as well as, strategies which will increase the engagement of clients and empowerment of consumers. The research proposes for this company a set of guiding principles: for top management, ethics and transparency, value chain, environmental responsibilities, information and communication, and social development. Indeed, the authors defend, as Mintzberg (Journal of Business Strategy 4 (2, Fall):3–15, 1983), that the standardisation of CSMRS is efficient, because it simplify the company reality. Effectively, disadvantages with co-ordination by standards occur when tasks are complex and the outcome is hard to predict. Thus, standards have a minimum level of routine, such as: SRP and SRS can be guaranteed, because actions at higher levels require other procedures